Unexpectedly good pop songs

In fact, the theme of winter seems to be unexpectedly good pop songs. As well as Xtina and Paris, I've gotta add Jessica Simpson to the list.

Admittedly, it's not the first time Jess and I have seen eye to eye, as I totally hearted 'With You', but nonetheless I'm a bit shocked to be enjoying the amusingly named ‘A Public Affair' so much. Sadly it isn't about cheating on Nick, being about an 'affair' as in an event and generally being of the 'let's party' theme, but someone in Jess HQ surely saw the song title and thought it might invite a bit of curiosity. In keeping with the party theme, the song owes more than a little to Madonna’s ‘Holiday’. To be exact it sounds like 'Holiday' as performed live, with the percussion brought forward in the mix (listen to it and see for yourself). Apparently Madge is none too phased. Her rep Liz Rosenberg is confident the song is “no doubt a loving tribute/homage/shout-out from Jessica to Madonna".

Meanwhile, Nelly Furtado’s new album Loose looks like a winner start to finish, if the three tracks I’ve heard are any indication (and the reviews suggest they are). If you’ve heard her new single ‘Promiscuous’, look forward to ‘Maneater’ (the album’s first UK release), because it’s an even better song, a thumping pop anthem with a slightly more even balance between Timbaland style hip-hop production and Nelly’s more familiar folk-pop stylings. The track 'No Hay Igual', which for some reason was pre-released on Australian itunes some weeks ago, is another gem.

Update: The Josh Desi remix of 'Promiscuous' is especially good.

I'd post more...

...but I've been busy with important things.

Has it come to this?

I laughed at The Wizard of Id today.

"Betty Boo."

"Shit."

You need to buy this

My single favourite pop song of the last few years has finally garnered an Australian release. 'The Show', which featured on the second Girls Aloud album, What Will the Neighbours Say, was inbcluded as a bonus track on the Australian release of their latest album Chemistry and has now been released as a single.

Here's a sample of why I love this song:

"Shoulda known, shoulda cared
Shoulda hung around the kitchen in my underwear
Acting like a lady
You shoulda made me
Shoulda jumped a little higher
Shoulda fluttered my mascara Like a butterfly
Instead of being lazy
It woulda saved me"

So, as you can plainly seem its better late than never. Now go buy!

NB. This is the British single cover because I can't find a high quality image of the Australian one. I like the UK cover better anyway.

You Could Have It So Much Better

It seems I actually have the urge to talk about Big Brother. I don’t mean the one we are subjected to with that tedious National Party voting, organic farming top-who-likes-to-take-it (I wonder if that gaydar name is taken?) and his pretty but bland associates. I’m talking about the real deal: Big Brother UK.

The British have always treated Big Brother as more of a freak show than we do, and have never tolerated bland contestants. Contestants are chosen who will stir conflict and controversy, and this year has certainly been no exception. Housemate Shahbaz claimed that he was going to attempt suicide on air, before walking out of his own accord. Another housemate, Dawn, was evicted by producers for receiving coded messages from the outside telling her that she was on the receiving end of negative publicity, only to stage a hunger strike, demanding access to unedited footage of her time in the house in order to clear her name. She is threatening legal action over the way she was depicted on the show, taking particular exception to the implication that she does now wash regularly.

Another contestant claims to have the largest breast implants in Britain, and an intruder called Sam is actually biologically male, but is telling the housemates she’s a woman. Best of all, the likely winner is a wannabe rock singer called Pete, who has a pretty severe case of Tourette’s syndrome. If this all sounds horribly exploitative, that’s because it is, but Pete’s popularity has less to do with being funny than with his quite endearing personality overall and his positive attitude to overcoming the quite considerable hurdles he has faced in his life.

Indeed, if he wins he will fit in rather well with other BBUK winners who have helped humanise a marginalised group in society. Of course there was season 5 winner Nadia, who made a guest appearance on our version after helping create a significantly higher level of public acceptance of transgender people in the UK, and there was also the season 2 winner, the hilariously camp Brian Dowling, who built acceptance of another marginalised group close to your heart and mine: trolley dollies.

Paris is Burning.

Besides Xtina, I'm also loving the new Paris Hilton song.

Whilst I'm not entirely sure I like it as much as the fantastic ‘Screwed’, which somehow never got released after Paris and Haylie Duff (who??) had a cat fight about it (maybe Girls Aloud should have a go), the new Paris track is pretty cool.

It's been compared in sound to Blondie's 'The Tide is High' (or perhaps, more accurately, to Atomic Kitten's cover version?) and UB40's 'Kingston Town', and vocally to Gwen Stefani. All of those comparisons are apt. It's pretty obviously had some serious digital surgery, so the jury is definitely out on whether Paris can sing. I look forward to the live show.

The video has emerged too, with Paris on a beach writhing, so it seems like the much touted Paris album is on its way well and truly. However, it is as yet untitled album, with previous reports that it would have the awesome title Paris Is Burning looking sadly doubtful. This would have not only been a great title for the album full stop, but it would have made my planned independent film Paris Is Burning, Texas* even more relevant.

Other news on the album includes Paris having written lyrics for seven of the songs, and that it includes a cover of Rod Stewart’s signature hit ‘Do Ya Think I’m Sexy’. Can’t wait.

Paris has also revealed that she contemplated a boob job, but changed her mind when her father said it was ‘sleazy’. Says the star of One Night In Paris: “he said it would cheapen my image. So I decided not to do it."

That was a near miss.

*Just like my planned short film 'Babychino', this may never happen.

Update: Shortly after posting this I received a spam email titled 'cure that burning flame'. Tee hee.

[normal service will resume shortly]

Just because I know you miss me...

I'm in the midst of essay marking hell, but I'll be posting soon.

In the meantime, let me simply say:

The new Christina Aguilera song is BOSS. It makes me strut.

Oh how I love the Itunes US store!